Only 2 of 17 appointments approved; officials’ salaries frozen for four years

Scott Cousins, scousins@thetelegraph.com

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10:45 pm CST, Thursday, February 22, 2018

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Only 2 of 17 appointments approved; officials’ salaries frozen for four years

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EDWARDSVILLE — Only two of 17 appointments to various boards and committees at Wednesday’s Madison County Board meeting were approved, with most of those igniting several arguments among elected officials.

However, resolutions on pay for elected officials that gave no raises for the next four years were also approved.

One appointment in particular was delayed for four months so board members could examine job descriptions and other information; another was delayed over questions of whether the appointee was a registered Democrat and possible conflicts of interest; four appointments, including one that is creating controversy in the LGBT community, were postponed for a month, and nine were pulled from consideration by Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler.

Approved were the appointments of Bobby Collins Sr. for the unexpired term of Mike Skoklo for the Madison County Housing Authority; and Brett Bruhn to a three-year term on the Highland-Pierron Fire Protection District.

The consideration of appointing Human Resources Specialist Bruce Cooper to the director of Administrative Services position was delayed until June on a motion by Board Member Michael Parkinson, D-Granite City.

Parkinson complained that Cooper has accumulated a large amount of comp time in his current position, and wanted to look over the job description.

County Administrator Doug Hulme noted that if Cooper was appointed to the director’s position the comp time issue would go away.

Prenzler said he would prefer that appointments were simply voted up or down. Parkinson was asked several times if the board could delay the appointments for only a month, but he would not withdraw his motion, which eventually passed 15-11.

The appointment of four new members of the Madison County Mental Health Board was delayed by one month.

At least one of the appointments, of the Rev. Dr. Robert Weise to replace Board President Michael J. Durbin, has raised some concerns among some LGBT activists.

The appointment of Weise, along with Benjamin Tolly, David Nosacka and Jackie Clement had been set to be appointed at January’s meeting but no action was taken.

Weise is a professor emeritus in practical theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, retiring in 2014 after 22 years, and served as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill from 1982-85.

According to his biography from Concordia, he has published articles in zoology, clinical pathology and bioethics. He has also written on stem cell research transgender issues and sexual ethics, including transgender and gay marriage issues.

Also delayed was approval of the appointment of Charlotte Dixon to a term on the Metro East Sanitary Board.

Parkinson had originally motioned to deny the appointment, but eventually modified that to postpone consideration for one month.

Several issues relating to Dixon’s appointment were discussed, including whether she was a “registered Democrat,” and possible conflicts of interest because family members serve on other boards that do business with MESD.

Prenzler said that Dixon had told him she was a Democrat, but that there are no records of her ever voting as a Democrat in a primary election.

The board also approved salaries for elected officials and county board members whose terms begin after the November 2018 election.

The salaries include no raises, which led to a long debate before the board approved freezing the salaries at current levels for the clerk, treasurer and county sheriff, along with any county board members. County sheriff will make $120,615.20 per year, with the county clerk and treasurer each making $116,615.20. County Board members make approximately $14,700 annually.

Salaries for elected officials must be set 180 days prior to a general election and cannot be changed while someone is holding office.

One concern was that by freezing the salaries of those officials coming into office this year will put them behind other elected officials whose terms expire in 2020.

Board Member Art Asadorian, D-Granite City, argued in favor of raises to bring those officials in line with other elected officials who will take office in 2020.

“I don’t think it’s fair that we have a discrepancy,” he said.

Auditor Rick Faccin proposed 1 percent raises over the next two years, then no raises for the final two years before the 2022 elections.

Most board members spoke in favor of the freeze.

“We had this discussion in our committees,” said Board Member Michael Walters, R-Godfrey. “The salaries we have are six figures.”

He also said it was mistake to “talk about what future boards will do.”

Others echoed the sentiment that elected officials made enough, with Finance Committee Chair Lisa Ciampoli suggesting that salaries could be reduced for some officials in 2020.

A motion to allow raises for elected officials in 2018 failed 11-15, and the final version was approved 20-6. A resolution on County Board members’ salaries was approved 25-1, with Michael “Doc” Holliday Sr. voting “no.” He had been the only “no” vote against the freeze in the Personnel Committee.